It's almost Christmas vacation, so that means more time to polish the next coming chapters. Yay!
I don't own FMA or its characters. I only own the OCs and plot.
Riza stopped herself from storming into every hotel room in search of Roy. She stopped inside the elevator. She was alone, and no one was anywhere near the elevator lobby. She stood there for a full minute, thinking what she should do, and where she would go. After hovering her finger over the buttons for a while, Riza decided she wanted to be alone, so she hit the top floor. She thought it would be nice to go to the viewing deck. Once she stepped out of the elevator and walked a few paces to the clear door, she felt the chilly winds and immediately regretted not stopping by her suite to get her coat.
It was freezing but the cold wind and silence was welcoming in a way, and very relaxing. She could see her breath; her chocolate eyes scanned the magnificent view of the Drachma Mountains. She rested her elbows on the wooden rails and leaned forward. She watched the people skiing on the nearby slopes and the children ice skating on the opposite side.
Riza took in a deep breath and heard the glass door open, signaling someone coming in to share the view with her. She relaxed herself but stayed alert.
"Riza?"
Riza turned around and saw Micha, holding a cup of hot chocolate. A white scarf was wrapped around her neck and rested on her shoulders. She was wearing matching gloves. It looked like she spent most of her time outdoors, as her nose and cheeks were turning pink. She looked rather chilled, but Riza couldn't understand what she was doing in the viewing deck if she still felt cold.
The teen approached her and took a sip of her hot chocolate. "You'll get sick if you don't put something on to keep you warm," Micha said.
"It's fine," Riza replied. "The cold helps me think."
Micha scoffed and removed her scarf. She threw it at Riza and it landed on her head. "As tough as I know you are, Riza, you're still human. And you have your needs." She took a long gulp from her hot beverage and watched Riza.
Riza took the scarf and handed it back, "this is not necessary." She replied firmly, "your health is far more important than mine."
Micha sighed and took the scarf. She put it back on and wrapped it around her thin neck. There was some silence, but it was comfortable.
"I know you know," Micha broke the silence. "Uncles Maes told me."
Riza looked down. She observed the people below for a while, throwing snowballs at each other. She remembered the time she, Roy, and the boys had a snowball fight. It hurt to remember how happy they all felt. "Yes, I know."
"She'll want to get rid of me, of us," Micha whispered. "She can't stand having another girl near dad. She hated the thought—the possibility, that dad would choose me over her."
Riza's jaw tensed. Micha's eyes were distant, but they were full of emotion. Micha was staring at the paper cup in her hands. "It's okay," she muttered. "I know for a fact that dad won't choose me. Not again."
Riza's heart broke to little bits and pieces. She wanted to embrace this poor child. Children should have never felt the need to be chosen over. "It's not okay." Riza said firmly. "You shouldn't have to deal with this."
"But I have," Micha answered. She smiled weakly at her babysitter and continued, "I survived, even if I was so much younger. I'm sure I can do it again. I just hope that you'll be okay too."
Riza was caught off guard, and the shock was evident in her face for a few seconds, but she forced herself to hide it. Too late. Micha saw it. The teenager laughed and wiped a tear from her eye. "Oh Riza, I know you love him. I know you love us." She smiled so innocently at Riza. "And he does too. We all do." She looked over at the mountains and Riza watched a tear fall from her eye.
"But things are changing now, and I don't know if I can win." Micha wiped the stubborn tear away with her gloved hand and smiled at Riza. "I just hope you do."
(((-)))
Micha was right. Things did change. Riza received a call from Maria, explaining how they are to return home immediately. The arrangements for her travel with the children were crudely done. Maria apologized and explained that it was the best she could do at such short notice and the budget allotted. Roy was going to stay in the lodge, and his belongings have been transferred to another suite. She never saw him since last night.
Riza was hurriedly packing Edward and Alphonse's belongings. Micha sat on her luggage in the lobby with her brothers. Alphonse was saddened to hear that they were being sent back to the mansion so soon. Edward hasn't said a word, and kept a hard look on his face the whole time.
Maes rushed to his godchildren once he heard they were being sent back. Maes wanted to go with them, but Micha insisted that he shouldn't have to sacrifice time with his family for them.
"You are also my family," Maes said as he hugged his goddaughter. "I will see you off at the station and I will arrange to have someone fetch you in Amestris."
Micha was thankful for the support, and hugged her uncle back. Maes called his wife and explained to her the situation. Gracia also suggested that they all just go home already so they could watch after them but even Alphonse insisted that they shouldn't be bothered just because of them.
"You have to enjoy your stay here, too," Alphonse said. "It wouldn't be fair to Winry and Elicia. They're excited for the Lights and Snow Show. I'm sure they'll hate it if they miss it tomorrow night."
"Besides," Edward added, "There are no more tickets being sold on the train we're catching. We don't even have our own cabin."
Maes was enraged. "WHAT?" The whole lobby shook with his booming voice, and people were staring. "How could Maria arrange something like that? It's not safe!"
"I'm sure it wasn't Maria's idea to put us there, Uncles Maes. She also mentioned a budget!" Alphonse reasoned.
"Tch. Since when did we ever consider budgets?" Edward scowled.
"It's okay, I'll be there to keep them safe," Riza said as she dragged and carried various bags and luggage with her. The boys and Maes helped her with it. "I am personally assuring you that they will get to Amestris safely." She promised to their uncle.
(((-)))
Maes' whole family saw the four of them off at the station, despite it being an hour away from the lodge. Maes gave them a wad of cash for emergency purposes and called in favors to have them fetched from the train station in Amestris. Gracia was already asking for the earliest train they can catch going back to Amestris but everything was full for the next three days.
"At least we won't be seeing her for another three days," Micha mumbled.
"But that means we won't be seeing dad anymore either," Alphonse replied sadly.
"I guess we just have to get used to not seeing him anymore again, Al," Edward said. He took his own bag and got ready to leave the Hughes.
Winry and Elicia looked genuinely sad to see them leave so early. They still had a few days of fun planned out that was never going to happen now. Elicia gave everyone a hug and lingered a little longer with Edward.
"It's okay to be upset, Ed," Winry whispered as she hugged him tighter. "You don't always have to pretend you're okay."
Edward sucked in a shaky breath and hugged Winry tighter too. "I'm okay." He said softly. "I'll be okay."
(((-)))
The four of them didn't speak for the most part of the train ride. They were comfortable enough in their own booth, but the crying baby three booths down, and the snoring old man behind Micha was hard to tolerate. Everyone had their earphones on the whole time to drown the crowd out. Despite the car being full, it was still pretty cold. Alphonse lied down on Riza's lap while Edward leaned on his sister's shoulder. Micha feigned her sleep until she ended up really falling asleep. Riza stayed awake the whole time. She read a novel that she had put away for a while due to her busy schedule.
Maes' driver came around to pick them up and drive them back to the mansion. It was really late and the only thing everyone wanted was to go to bed. Everyone retired early and locked themselves in their rooms without having dinner or a snack.
Riza thought that this wasn't normal. The boys never skipped dinner, as it was their favorite meal time. They also didn't have a snack after lunch. They should be ravenous by now but they showed no signs of hunger. They simply wanted to sleep and Micha seemed all too eager to get to her room.
Riza thought that if they weren't going to have dinner, it wouldn't feel right if she had a snack. So she went back to her room and took a shower. She was tempted to unpack her belongings but decided against it. She felt too emotionally drained. Riza tucked herself under the blankets and allowed her tiredness to take over. But before she drifted to sleep, she expected to think of Roy. But strangely, the only person in her last conscious thoughts and dreams was that of Aaron Morris.
(((-)))
Everything went back to how it was before.
Roy would be busy with work and never speak to anybody. If he were to speak, it would be on his phone.
The boys would do nothing but go to their summer lessons, play games, and sleep.
Micha would shut herself in her room, and practically live in someone else's house for most of the days of the week.
And there was Riza. She didn't know what to do, and why things changed so suddenly. Why things had to change so suddenly just because of one woman. And it wasn't even her.
Riza's life became an easy routine of being Edward and Alphonse's helper and driver. She became a mute and empty shell. Devoid of putting any sort of feelings, or emotional attachment to the boys or anything that she did for them.
She wasn't allowed to play their favorite oldies CD that she introduced to the boys while she drove them to their lessons. She wasn't allowed to randomly fix their collars when it would get wrinkled or button their shirts for them when they were having a hard time. She wasn't allowed to read them one chapter every night, anymore. She wasn't even allowed to speak to them, unless it was about their lessons, or telling them that they were about to depart for their activities.
The boys seemed downcast at the turn of events. Edward seemed mostly angry, but he didn't speak about his thoughts on the matter. Alphonse's reaction was the worse, and it broke Riza's heart. She see's him randomly hiding in corners or portions of the house to cry, as he clings on to his stuffed knight. Edward usually finds him, and just stays with him as he punches the nearest throw pillow or wall.
Riza wasn't allowed to have meals with them anymore, as Rachel took her place on the table. Micha never ate with them anymore. She usually comes home late at night, or asks for her meals to be brought to her room. There are days where she doesn't bother to come home anymore and no one seemed to care. But Riza did. For a week, she would always try to call her, but Micha would never pick up. Riza would wait up for her in the foyer with Black Hayate to no reprive.
Roy had also been reclusive. He busied himself with work, and Rachel. He never visited the boys anymore, or asked about their lessons. He never even bat an eye at Micha's empty seat during meals.
Everyone was falling apart.
The only happy person in the bunch was Rachel. She seemed to glow even more with joy as the days passed by, despite seeing these things happen around her. She was satisfied shopping all day, and spending time with her friends. She always has a bunch of people over, doing nothing but giggling and gossiping over these famous names that she has been attached to. She throws three parties every week. Riza didn't even know it was possible but apparently it is.
What possibly irked and hurt Riza the most was how Roy was all over her. As if he didn't care about anything else except for her. When he would come home, he would immediately go looking for her, and right after dinner (sometimes even skipping it) they would lock themselves in his room for hours on end.
Just a few weeks ago, everything was going perfectly. But Riza was foolish to think so. That she could be a part of this family as more than just a mere hired help. That she could possibly have the perfect family she had always dreamed of: the perfect loving husband, and the most adorable and lovable children. She was so close, she thought. But then again, she wasn't. She never was. She was stuck in a dream, convinced that things were going to just fall into her lap and let her be happy. But it was the children that broke her heart the most.
She lied awake at night, thinking of how her own sadness could be bearable. She often wondered if the pain in her heart would be worth it if she saw the three of them happy again. To see them smile. But happy things weren't going to happen. That was not going to happen.
After two weeks of madness, she decided to take the weekend off. She wanted to ask Roy personally but Philip told her she didn't need to. Maria would just deposit the check in her account for her salary. Riza went back to her room to dig out some of her old clothes. It took her around ten minutes to find the right box. She pulled out a tank top, a light pink polo shirt and an old pair of jeans. She packed what else she thought she might need for her trip, even if she had no place in mind.
Black Hayate started pulling on her slacks and looked at her with those big, puppy eyes. Riza felt his sadness. She bent down and stroked his head. She was confused and she didn't know what else she could do. Part of her just wanted to leave. She had enough money to move to a new town and get a new job. But Riza knew she could never leave the boys. She sat on the floor and Black Hayate jumped on her lap. Riza continued to stroke his thick black fur and let herself zone out a bit.
What am I going to do? She thought.
Heads up, not much RoyAi going to happen for the next 2 chapters is what I can say. It's mostly going to be about how Riza, and the kids feel about all of this. There's also more back story happenings to shed some light on why Rachel's terrible. I've already finished the next chapter and it rips my heart to pieces. No more spoilers. hehehe.
I hope you guys liked it. And I'm sorry again for the late updates. My last year in college is killing me. :(
Do drop a review my way. They make me feel loved. 3 Thank you for supporting this story still. It means a lot to me. :)
